Even if you discount the devastating climate change impacts of burning fossil fuels, the act of combustion is seriously damaging to human health. Fossil fuels emit many toxins and particulate matter that on inhalation damages human hearts and lungs. Science clearly shows us that living in an area with heavily polluted air can knock several years off your expected lifespan.

Evolution has caused all living things to become adapted to their particular environment. Most species will inhabit a particular geographical, temperature, height, or habitat range, with an immense amount of inter-connectivity and inter-dependence between them. Many species were already at risk pre global warming due to hunting, habitat degradation or destruction and introduction of alien species that out compete with indigenous ones. As the planet warms many species have to adapt, some will cope, and inevitably many will not and will become extinct. Modelling shows that with a two degree rise in the earth's average temperature around a third of all species on the planet would become extinct. We could reach an average two degrees warmer by as early as 2050.
Already we are seeing the affects of these changes as animals try to adapt to a warming world. Many bird species are laying their eggs earlier than ever recorded, frogs are laying their spawn earlier, butterflies are emerging from hibernation earlier and trees are coming in to leaf earlier in the spring.

Antarctica is the coldest, most pristine area of the planet which apart from a handful of scientists has never been inhabited. Temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsular have risen 2.8 degrees c in the last 50 years, making it one of the fastest warming areas of the planet.There has been an increase in positive degree days of 74% over the same period. This has led to 87% of the peninsular's glaciers retreating, and a loss of 25,0000 km square of sea ice from floating ice shelves. This loss of sea ice is particularly worrying. Antarctic Krill are the most abundant species by mass on the planet. They feed on algae that graze on the underside of sea ice. Loss of sea ice means loss of algae resulting in a loss of up to 80% of Antarctic Krill. The krill are the basis of the whole Antarctic food chain, sustaining the whales, seals and penguins. The two ,true Antarctic penguins, Adelie's and Emperors are both in serious decline. Emperors due to a loss of ice shelf and Adelie's which need bare ground to breed on. The rising temperatures have resulted in the air being able to hold more moisture, most of this falls as snow, covering the Adelie's breeding grounds. They are declining in numbers, and migrating to the south, whilst Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins are moving in to take their place.

Argentina has many glaciers in its southern mountain ranges of Patagonia and Tierra Del Fuego, all of these glaciers are receding rapidly as temperatures rise. This is leading to water resource issues as glacial meltwater is often the source for communities water supply. Its populations of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are decreasing in numbers. Increased rainfall on their breeding grounds is causing more of the chicks to die of hypothermia, as they are vulnerable to rainfall when they are still covered in down, which unlike the adult feathers is not waterproof.

Australia has been suffering from the impacts of climate change for many years. An unprecedented long period of drought has dessicated many areas of Victoria and New South Wales. Once productive agricultural land has turned to dust. Farmers can no longer afford to buy in irrigation water for their crops (if its is available) and many areas of vines have been left to wither and die, as it became uneconomic to water them.
Despite many Australians feeling the affects of climate change, they have taken little action. Australia has vast reserves of coal which they export around the world and also use to generate nearly 90% of their electricity needs. Despite having vast potential for solar energy, few Australians have been prepared to invest in the technology, as coal generated electricity is so cheap. Due to their affluent lifestyle, the average Australian has the largest carbon footprint in the world.

Biofuel covers a whole range of options to reduce our carbon footprint. Bio-diesel for internal combustion engines is an obvious one, though there are concerns with both forest clearance to make way for bio-fuel crops and the land it takes away from global food production.
Waste wood can be burned in power stations to generate electricity, alongside fast growing wood, like Willow grown specifically as bio-fuel. Methane from sewage plants as well as from landfill sites, can be captured. Once captured, it can be added to the gas grid as bio-gas or it can be used to generate electricity.
Algae can be mass produced and also used as a biofuel.

Bolivia is a country of great contrast from the lowland Amazon rainforest to the lofty height of the Andean peaks. It is a poor country with little resilience to climate change which is impacting the nation in many ways. The glaciers of the high Andes are receding, one, Chacaltaya has disappeared completely. This is leading to water shortages in the capital La Paz, as it relies heavily on glacial meltwater for its water security. High levels of deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia are drivers of climate change and wiping out some of the most bio-diverse regions of the planet.

The Canadian tar sands are the world's third largest known oil reserve. The mix of bitumen, sand and clay underlays much of Athabasca in Alberta. The exploitation of the tar sands to make synthetic oil, is the most environmentally destructive project on the planet. The oil companies are responsible for the second fastest rate of deforestation on the planet, second only to the Amazon rain forest. The Boreal forest being ripped down is not only a huge carbon sink and part of the lungs of the planet, but supports amazing biodiversity. All this is lost when ripped down. The resulting oil produced has three times the carbon footprint of conventional oil, due to the vast quantities of gas used to heat water, to extract the bitumen from the sand. This highly polluted, toxic water is then put in massive unlined tailing's ponds, that leach their toxins out to the wider environment. The first Nation communities of Fort McKay and Fort Chipewyan that are downstream of the tar sands mines are suffering very real health problems, including high rates of rare cancers.

Though carbon offset is seen by some as controversial and no replacement for reducing carbon emissions, by others it is seen as playing a part in helping individuals, companies and institutions reduce their carbon footprint. Many companies have sprung up that offer carbon offset. They place a price on the carbon released, then invest that money in ways that take carbon out of equation. This may be planting trees that absorb carbon as they grow, or investing in renewable energy in third world countries that replace fossil fuel technologies.

In 2008 China officially became the worlds single largest emitter of greenhouse gases. A booming economy and strong economic growth over many years has lead to a huge increase in living standards for many and a huge increase in demands for energy. Most of China's electricity is generated in coal fired power stations. China has massive coal reserves, many of which are low grade and highly polluting. China is currently constructing a new coal fired power station every week. the environmental protection standards are woefully inadequate with huge air pollution problems and contaminated rivers. China is currently in the middle of the worst drought in 50 years. Though water shortage is partly driven by over extraction from rivers it is also due to decreasing rainfall totals as a result of climate change. Many northern provinces are suffering with once productive agricultural land turning to desert. Food shortages are predicted to be a real problem in future years for China. Having said all of this, China is investing in renewable energy. Every where I went, the modern apartment blocks all had solar water heaters on the roof.

Coastal erosion is a gradual process that takes place over time, but as with all erosion the greatest changes are caused by the most severe events. The gentle lapping of waves at a cliff edge, over time will cause a small degree of weathering; however the ferocious winter storm that generates much larger waves will cause the greatest degree of erosion.
The East coast of England has been eroding since Roman times. It is composed mainly of soft glacial deposits making it vulnerable to the eroding force of wave power. The rate of erosion has increased dramatically in recent times due to a greater incidence of stormy weather. As the planet warms the computer models predict that we will see an increase in both the number and ferocity of storms, leading to even more rapid coastal erosion. Already on some parts of the East coast of England the authorities are looking at managed retreat, whereby farmer????s fields are left to convert to salt marsh as the sea defences are taken down.

Coral reefs have been described as the tropical rainforests of the sea. They harbour a huge range of bio diversity as well as providing protection to shorelines from coastal erosion. Corals are formed from a symbiotic relationship between Scleractinian Coral and microalgae. Corals come in many different forms, but all are dependent on the relationship with the algae. Coral tends to form in areas of relatively stable sea temperatures around the tropics. In recent years increasing areas of reef have been bleached. This bleaching is caused when the temperature of the sea gets too warm, causing the coral to eject the algae. Once the pigmented algae are rejected the translucent coral then appears white. Reefs can recover from bleaching episodes if they are not too frequent or too severe. As global warming is causing sea temperatures to rise around the planet, more and more areas of reef are suffering bleaching.

Climate Criminals
Steel works, petrochemical plants, coal fired power stations belching out millions of tonnes of Co2, these are perhaps what we think of as climate criminals. Indeed they can all be found in this category. However the individual switching on a light, the kettle, washing machine, or going for a drive in the car, are equally as guilty and are also featured in this category. Climate criminals are then for the purposes of this site any individual, corporation or process that involves burning fossil fuels and releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The world's forests are a vital part of the carbon cycle. As they grow they sequestrate carbon, locking it away in their tissues. They are also an important driver of rainfall patterns via the transpiration of fluids from their leaves, as well as providing the very oxygen that we breath. A vital habitat for untold numbers of species adds to their unique and vitally important role in the earths biological systems. For far too long they have been used and abused, cut down at will, to line the pockets of timber barons, with predictably disastrous consequences.

Shifting weather patterns caused by climate change are affecting rainfall patterns across the globe. Some areas are seeing increased rainfall with an increased risk of flooding, whilst others are getting ever drier. Large areas of Northern China, South East Australia, and Africa, to name but a few are suffering increasingly prolonged periods of drought. This affects crop production and essential water supplies for humans, as well as impacting on many species of wildlife.

Dubai is a carbon fools paradise who's excesses and phenomenal growth have exacted a heavy price on the planet. Currently 25% of the worlds cranes are working on massive construction projects in Dubai. Steel and cement are both extremely carbon hungry in their manufacture. The city of Dubai has used more of these materials in recent years than many countries. Among the attractions are the worlds tallest building and a luxury hotel that is having a cooling system fitted under its private beach. Most of this excess could be powered by the abundant solar energy, but instead has been fueled by exploiting its rich oil wealth. Dubai is creating many new islands from the sea to build endless luxury hotels and apartments at a time when other island nations around the world are being threatened by global warming induced sea level rise.

Education
Education plays a vital role in tackling global warming/ climate change. We need individuals to understand the threat that global warming poses not just to humans but to every living thing on the planet. We can all take actions to reduce our carbon footprint, but none of us are going to do this without seeing the need to do so. In this respect educating both children and adults is crucial in the battle against climate change.

The Isle of Eigg in Scotland's Inner Hebrides, shows what is possible when communities pull together. Following a community buyout of the island, the islanders decided in 1998 to go green. Prior to that the island had no mains electric, each house had their own diesel generator for power. The island invested in four wind turbines, three hydro projects and two arrays of solar panels. Between them they meet all the islands electricity needs for 98% of the time, with diesel generators kicking in automatically if needed. Each house is only allowed to use 5Kw at any one time, which avoids spikes in demand. Eigg electric, the islands electric company, administers the whole system.

The Falkland Islands are a remote group of sub antarctic islands off the eastern tip of South America, made famous by the Argentine invasion in the 1980's. The islands have become drier and warmer over the last 50 years as a result of climate change. Sea surface temperatures around the islands have also risen, causing some species of fish to migrate to find cooler waters. The slants are important breeding ground for 4 species of Penguin, all of which have seen declines in their populations in recent years. Some of this decline can be clearly attributed to the scarcity of food for the adults to feed their chicks, which subsequently starve to death. As a result of the warmer and drier climate the vulnerable peat soils are more susceptible to burning and are less able to sequestrate carbon.

Due to Finland's northerly position on the planet it is heating more rapidly than areas closer to the equator. Average temperatures have already risen across Finland by 0.7 degrees celcius in the last century. New climate modeling predictions for Finland show an increase in temperature of between 2.4 - 7.4 degrees c by 2080, they also show a significant increase in precipitation. This will lead to Southern Finland becoming snow free and an increased risk of flooding. The tundra peatlands of Finland as well as containing vast quantities of carbon dioxide also contain huge amounts of methane, as the permafrost melts these are likely to be released in increasing quantities adding to global temperature rise significantly. Northern Finland or Lapland is synonymous with the Reindeer herding Sami people, they are likely to be increasingly adversely affected as conditions become less than ideal for Reindeer to survive in.

Perhaps one of the most visible signs of climate change, flooding is starting to affect communities that had hitherto thought they were safe. All the computer models show that as the earth warms the weather will get more severe and less predictable. Some places will get less rain and suffer drought, others will get more leading to catastrophic flooding. Even if annual rainfall totals in some areas remain the same, they will probably suffer greater flooding. This is because the rainfall will be less spread out throughout the year, but more intense. These rainfall events of greater intensity will inevitably lead to more frequent flooding.
In the UK alone catastrophic flooding has occurred recently in Carlisle, Sheffield, Doncaster and Tewkesbury affecting millions of people. Not only is this a huge inconvenience, it costs the insurance industry ??£millions. In addition many farm crops were flooded leading to food shortages. It seems likely that once inhabitable areas of flood plain will become less and less inhabitable as time goes on.

This category contains images that define food miles as well as looking at food security and how our agricultural systems affect the environment and add to climate change. In addition it contains images that show how we can reduce our food miles.

Food is essential to survival. In the west we have got used to cheap, plentiful and varied supplies, often flown in from around the world, with a large carbon footprint attached. Changing weather patterns (floods, droughts), sea level rise and erosion are all starting to affect agricultural productivity in many parts of the world. Food security is becoming an increasingly important issue. Already millions go hungry in the third world, this situation is set to get even worse.

Shale Gas is fossil fuel that is trapped within sedimentary rock. It is released by drilling into the shale, and pumping a mixture of water and chemicals down into the strata to split the rock (known as fracking) and release the gas. As a fossil fuel it contributes to climate change. There are other problems associated with exploiting this fossil reserve. In the UK the fracking process has been linked to small earthquakes recorded around the area that has been fracked, in this case near Blackpool. In the UK, the industry is very much in its infancy with test drills being undertaken by the firm Cuadrilla. They are drilling into Bowland Shale which is found at depths along the Lancashire Plain between Blackpool and Southport.
In the US, the resource has been exploited for years, with many resulting problems. The chemicals used in the fracking process have contaminated ground water. Also the methane released by the fracking process has got into the water table. People in areas of drilling have reported methane coming out of their water taps. In some instances in such concentrations that they can set fire to what is coming out of their water taps.

Forest Fires
As the planet warms many areas of woodland are becoming drier. In hot summers tinder box conditions can rapidly lead to devastating forest fires. Not only does this destroy vital habitat, it exacerbates the problem by releasing vast quantities of C02 into the atmosphere. It also poses a threat to human life and property. In the summer of 2004 an area of forest the size of the UK burnt in Alaska

The burning of fossil fuels, chiefly coal, gas and oil is largely responsible for climate change. Burning these fossil energy reserves releases C02 into the atmosphere. This greenhouse gas traps more of the suns solar radiation within the earths atmosphere and causes the earths temperature to rise. We can see from many studies that the earths temperature over millions of years has been very closely linked to the amount of C02 in the atmosphere. In the geological past volcanoes have been responsible for much of the C02. Over the last 1000 years man has added to this by his agricultural practices, deforestation and burning fossil fuels.

Iceland generates 30% of its electricity from geothermal power. It sits conveniently on top of the constructive plate margin, between the European and North American tectonic plates. This active volcanic region has geothermal activity at the surface, the steam from which can be harnessed to drive steam turbines. In the UK we are experimenting with drilling geothermal boreholes, to access hot water for space heating. This is not a renewable energy source that all countries could utilize, but where geothermal activity is close to the surface, it is an option.

Glacial Retreat
The earth has seen some 20 odd periods of glaciation in the last 3 million years, interspersed with warmer interglacials. So the temperature of the planet has fluctuated wildly in the past. The difference now is the rate of change. Human induced global warming is causing the average temperature of the earth to rise faster than at any time in its history. One of the most obvious signs of this is the rate at which the majority of the earth????s glaciers are now retreating. Glaciers tend to be found in mountainous areas, being a keen mountaineer I have seen with my own eyes the rate of retreat of glaciers in France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Kenya and the USA. Many of the world????s glaciers are a vital water resource from summer melting. If they disappear completely, as they inevitably will from many areas, it will lead to huge water shortages.

Greece like all Southern European countries is starting to feel the heat. Whilst summer temperatures have always been high, Mediterranean countries are getting hotter, with an increased incidence of heat waves. These prolonged periods of high temperatures are dangerous to human health. Recent heat waves across southern Europe have been blamed for thousands of deaths. As well as having to contend with heat waves, many of the same countries are becoming drier, making agriculture more difficult. It is predicted that Sahara like conditions, over the coming years will spread to Southern Europe making it an increasingly difficult place to live.

For most people living in the rich western nations, their home is the largest portion of their carbon footprint. This being the case, it is important to start building in a more environmentally friendly way. As householders we can generate our own energy via solar PV or solar thermal, or even small scale wind turbines, ground and air source heat pumps etc. By super insulating our homes we reduce the amount of energy required to heat them in cool climes or cool them in hot climes.
We all have a responsibility to use energy wisely and to choose energy sources that minimize the use of fossil fuels.

Transport has the potential to have a high carbon footprint, with the lowest footprint being walking, to the highest, probably flying. Across all forms of transport, there is a real need to make them more fuel efficient, preferably changing from a fossil fuel based system to a renewable one.
We can all take action to reduce our transport footprint by the choices we make. Public transport is generally more efficient than the individual car, though cars are becoming ever more fuel efficient. With the introduction of electric cars we have the potential for cleaner, more efficient personal transport.

Greenland is the worlds largest none continental island and its ice sheet contains the largest volume of ice outside Antarctica, enough if it were to melt completely to raise global sea levels by nine meters. Ice covers over 80% of the island. Temperatures in Greenland have rocketed in a short space of time, having risen nine degrees fahrenheit in the last 60 years due to human induced climate change. This makes understanding the impacts on the Greenland ice sheet crucial. Many scientists are now working to try to increase our understanding of the likely future impacts on the ice sheet if we don't rapidly reduce the amount of C02 in the atmosphere.

The environment and climate change are moving higher up the political agenda and more of a priority in people's lives. This being the case, more and more companies are trying to push their green credentials, in order to push their products or services to the public. In some cases companies are making a genuine effort to reduce their impact on the planet, in others their green claims are rather bogus, hence the phrase greenwash was coined to describe such companies.

The Gulf Stream, or North Atlantic Drift is an ocean current that bathes the western shores of the British Isles with warm water. This makes Britain warmer than it would otherwise be for its latitude. The conveyor is driven by cold dense sea water sinking in the Arctic. As it travels south it warms and rises, with this warmer water then heading back north, to complete the cycle.
As the planet warms, massive quantities of fresh water are flowing into the Arctic Ocean from melting glaciers, sea ice and ice sheets. This less dense fresh water, floats on the surface, and slows down the rate at which the denser sea water sinks.
Scientists have already recorded a slowing down of the Gulf Stream. If it were to cease completely it would make Britain a far colder place.

From the smallest mountain stream to the world's mightiest rivers, all have been harnessed to supply hydro electricity. Whilst damming large rivers can impact on their downstream hydrology, the electricity that is produced is carbon neutral, and helps to tackle climate change. In places like Norway and Iceland a large percentage of their entire electricity generation is hydro.

Iceland is a fascinating country from a climate change perspective. It sits on top of a constructive plate margin between the European and North American tectonic plates. This makes it volcanically active, the emissions from which helped create the earths early atmosphere. This geothermal activity also gives Iceland an advantage when it comes to renewable energy. It is the first country in the world to generate all its electricity from renewable energy, 70% from hydro power and 30% from geothermal. As well as generating electricity the geothermal also provides boundless supplies of hot water for household and industrial space heating, helping to cut down enormously on peoples household carbon footprint. Pipes fed with geothermal heated water even keep the pavements of Reykjavik snow and ice free in winter. Not satisfied with 100% renewable electricity, Iceland woulds like to cut down on its use of imported oil for its cars and boats and is experimenting with moving to a hydrogen economy. They are using the excess renewable electricity generation to split water into its constituent parts to create the hydrogen. Pilot projects have seen hydrogen powered bus on the streets of Reykjavik. There is even a hydrogen filling station for the increasing number of hydrogen cars.

The huge sub-continent of India has a rapidly growing population and economy to match. This growing affluence is leading to a huge increase in demand for power, much of which is met by burning fossil fuels. Renewables are starting to make more of an appearance, in particular solar energy, of which India has an abundance of potential. In many areas they have 300 plus sunshine days a year, making solar an obvious choice to power their ongoing growth.

Inuits
The Inuits of Shishmaref, Alaska, have a tiny carbon footprint as they still live a traditional hunter gatherer lifestyle. As such they are least responsible for climate change, but are being hugely affected by it. The problem is twofold. The animals that they depend on for survival are shifting range as the Arctic warms up rapidly, making them harder to hunt. Also the Island of Shishmaref is being rapidly eroded by storms as sea ice that once used to protect the island is now absent in early winter. This category includes images of Shishmaref Inuits and their traditional lifestyle

Malawi is one of the poorest countries on earth, and as such has very little resilience to climate change. In January 2015, this small African country suffered the most catastrophic floods every recorded, following three days of incessant rain. The floods made nearly quarter of a million people homeless, killed several hundred and destroyed thousands of homes, roads and bridges. The contaminated flood waters spilled over into hundreds of wells, polluting drinking water sources. This has lead to cases of Cholera, as thousands have no access to clean drinking water. As the flood waters recede, they leave pools that rapidly turn stagnant in the tropical heat, perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos. This has lead to a huge jump in the number of cases of Malaria. Two months after the floods, the town of Makhanga is still cut off, after the rail and all road connections with the town were washed away.

Sea levels are rising across the world driven by melt water from glaciers and ice sheets. Sea levels will continue to rise putting ever increasing pressure on sea walls and levees that protect vulnerable low lying land around the coast. The cost of protecting these low lying areas is becoming more expensive and more difficult as time goes by. One answer to this problem is managed retreat or coastal realignment. This is where existing coastal protection is deliberately breached to allow sea water to flood onto agricultural land. This takes pressure off during storm surges and helps protect nearby urban areas. As well as protecting towns around the coast managed retreat has the added bonus that it creates valuable wildlife habitat in the form of coastal wetlands.

Morocco sits at the front line of climate change. Situated between the Med and the Sahara it has always been warm/hot and dry, but the situation is getting worse. A lot of the country relies on the Atlas mountains for their water. Winter snow fall, feeds rivers with Spring and Summer snow melt. The snowfall totals are decreasing and the snow is melting earlier in the Spring, leading to water shortages in many areas. Rainfall totals are down by as much as 75% in some areas in some years. This has led many Berber people to leave the land they have cultivated for centuries and migrate to the cities to try and find work, as they can no longer support themselves on the ever drying land. Temperatures are also on the rise, with predictions stating that many parts of Morocco will be simply too hot to be habitable in the coming years.

The mighty Nepalese Himalayas are the highest mountains on earth. This is no protection for their glaciers, which are receding rapidly due to climate change. The forests that cloak the foothills, have been badly deforested, cut down to provide fuel for local people. The rivers in Kathmandu are some of the most polluted in the world. All this will lead to serious water shortages downstream in future years. Despite all its problems this poor country remains one of the most stunningly beautiful places on earth, whose peoples are both friendly and welcoming.

The Netherlands is the most densely populated country on the planet, with 50% of the land being below sea level. This makes it particularly vulnerable to river flooding and the impacts of sea level rise. One way the Dutch are combating the problem of flooding and lack of space, is to construct floating houses. The houses are tethered so they do not float away, but can move up and down with rising water levels.

With the rapid growth of renewable energy solutions, it is becoming increasingly easy to supply energy to off grid locations. As prices come down it is possible for the individual to consider powering homes that lie off grid with solar panels, and wind turbines being the most commonly used.

With many people opposed to wind farm development on land, offshore is the obvious solution. Technically it is far more difficult and expensive to develop such infrastructure. I have been documenting the construction of The Walney offshore wind farm, sighted some 12 miles off Barrow in Furness in Cumbria, UK. The wind farm consists of 102, 3.6 MW turbines, giving a total installed capacity of 367.2MW, enough to power 320,000 homes. The site is being developed by the Danish energy company, Dong.

Peat Bog
Peat forms in boggy ground where instead of decaying the dying plant matter is preserved in the anaerobic conditions and builds up over time to form peat. Peat bogs are carbon sinks and lock up huge quantities of carbon that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere. In the UK, peat tends to form in cooler environments. Research has shown that as the earth warms the carbon budget of peat bogs is being affected, with carbon and methane (both greenhouse gases) being released in greater quantities than normal.

Permafrost.
Permafrost, areas of permanently frozen ground, covers large areas of the planet at higher latitudes and elevations. The earth's temperature is rising more rapidly at higher latitudes than the average temperature rise, leading to large areas of permafrost starting to melt. In Alaska and Siberia this melting is having devastating consequences. Infrastructure built on the permafrost like roads and houses are starting to buckle and sink. Huge swathes of Black Spruce forest are suffering from the phenomenon known as drunken forest, where they lean at alarming angles as the ground beneath them melts and subsides. Summer lakes that formed on top of the permafrost are starting to disappear as the frozen barrier melts and the water drains away.

Most people in first world, western economies are used to limitless, cheap energy. This has lead to incredible waste of energy, simply because it is cheap and affordable. when people start to value energy, they tend to waste less of it, for example by leaving lights on permanently, the computer on overnight etc. In the third world most people survive on a fraction of the electricity that the western world uses, if they are lucky enough to have any in the first place.
If we added the cost of the environmental damage to electricity production, it would become far more expensive and perhaps more valued, rather than taken for granted.

The world's demand for electricity is growing all the time. most of our electricity is generated in large commercial power stations. If these are powered by fossil fuels, they contribute directly to climate change. Increasingly our attention must turn to generating electricity from renewable sources. We all have to learn to value energy and to waste less of it.

Protest
Many of the social causes of the last two centuries have caused people to take to the streets to protest. Never has it been more important to use protest as a way of getting the message across. It is an important part of the global warming story. In this category then are images of people taking to the streets to highlight the problem, as well as people taking direct action in the Climate Camp organisation.

Rainforest occurs in the tropics and is the most biodiverse habitat on the planet, it has been described as the lungs of the planet. Not only do the forests produce life giving oxygen but importantly in the battle against climate change they absorb and sequestrate huge quantities of carbon dioxide. In many areas of the world rainforest has been degraded and deforested. This is something of a double whammy as not only are we releasing this stored carbon back into the system, but we are reducing the planets ability to store the ever increasing amounts of carbon dioxide that mankind is emmitting

There is currently a massive refugee or migrant problem facing Europe, as people flee various war torn countries across North Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria. What most people don;t realise is that these refugees are essentially climate refugees. The Arab spring that lead to so much unrest around north Africa and the Middle east, started in Tunisia as a protest against rising food prices. The prices were escalating due to climate change induced drought that had slashed harvests across North Africa. In Syria in particular, drought from 2010 onwards caused masses of people to leave the land and flock to the cities, a catalyst for unrest that kicked off the protests in Syria and lead to the current war.

If we are to stand any chance of tackling the worst excesses of climate change,we need to switch rapidly to a low carbon economy.This means generating our electricity from renewable means, rather than from fossil fuels.The most obvious sources of renewable energy are wind power, solar power and wave power.We need to invest heavily in these,at the same time as putting a pricing tariff on carbon generated power that will make renewable energy price comparable if not cheaper than generating energy from traditional means.

Science.
Scientific study and research is crucial in the battle against global warming/climate change. Our understanding of the issues comes to us through a science based approach. It is critical that we understand how the earth????s atmosphere and weather are changing and how they have changed in the past. From this we can also predict through computer modelling how the climate will change in the future, and what impacts this is likely to have on life on the planet.

Sea ice formerly covered millions of square miles of both the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans. In a warming world it is melting rapidly. This should be of great concern, as it is a valuable habitat for many marine mammals and organisms. In addition is is one of many feedback loops that accelerate climate change. Sea ice being white in colour had a high albedo, i.e. it reflects a lot of the suns energy back into space. When it melts and is replaced by sea water, which is much darker in colour and has a much lower albedo, more of the suns energy is absorbed, accelerating the warming, and further accelerating the melting of the remaining sea ice.

Sea Level Rise.
Sea Levels are starting to rise around the globe. As the earth warms, glaciers and ice sheets melt, releasing water that had been locked up into the oceans. In addition as the water warms it expands also adding to the problem. Most of the world????s largest cities containing millions of people lie at or very close to sea level. The Greenland Ice sheet contains enough freshwater to raise global sea levels by 5 metres, it is currently melting at an alarmingly rapid rate. It seems likely that in the next 30-50 years, millions of people will be made homeless. Tuvalu lying at or barely above sea level will probably one of the first countries to disappear due to global warming.

Seasons.
It is a frightening but inescapable truth that the seasons are changing. Spring is arriving earlier, summers are getting hotter, autumn is extending into winter and winters are becoming shorter and milder. As part of the story of climate change, I felt it was important to include images of seasons that depict the variety and changing nature of the annual cycle.

The Inuits of Shishmaref, Alaska, have a tiny carbon footprint as they still live a traditional subsistance hunter gatherer lifestyle. As such they are least responsible for climate change, but are being hugely affected by it. The problem is two fold. The animals that they depend on for survival are shifting range as the Arctic warms up rapidly, making them harder to hunt.
On the tiny island of Shishmaref, ten of the Inuits houses have been washed into the sea and others have had to be moved back from the edge. In the past their island home was protected from the damage of winter storms by the sea ice. As the temperatures soar the sea ice is forming later and later in the year, leaving their island vulnerable to late fall and early winter storms.

The Sinai Desert has seen temperatures rise by 0.7 degrees centigrade in the last 100 years as a result of climate change. In some respects existing deserts are more resistant to the impacts of climate change as the ecosystems have adapted to very unpredictable rainfall. As climate change advances we are seeing the spread of desert like conditions north across the Mediteranean to areas where the local populations and agriculture are not adapted to such hot dry conditions. In the Sinai The local Bedouin Arabs are superbly adapted to the hot dry desert conditions and may suffer less than their neighbour's across the Mediteranean basin.

Solar power is one of the most readily available sources of renewable energy. Directly harnessing the suns power. Already the technology exists to store energy generated from solar power, so that the power plants can continue to generate electricity long after the sun has gone down.
In this category you will find solar thermal, systems for heating water and also solar electric systems. In Solar electric you will find Photo Voltaic (PV), parabolic troughs and solar tower technology.

Solutions
It is not too late; we can all take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. In this category you will find lots of examples of how to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, including the following. Public transport, renewable energy generation, reducing food miles, wind turbines, HEP, solar power, biodiesel and much more.

South Georgia is a Sub Antarctic island that holds some of the greets concentrations of wildlife on the planet, it is probably the most important seabird breeding island in the world. Sea surface temperatures have risen by 1 degree c around the island, and temperatures on land have also risen. In a recent study 97% of coastal glaciers were found to have retreated, some very rapidly. The warming oceans have caused species of fish to migrate South to find cooler conditions. This redistribution of prey species is affecting sea bird numbers. Between the mid 1970's and id 1990's Macaroni Penguins declined by 50%.

Spain has invested more than any other European country in renewable energy in recent years. The investment has been in both solar and wind power, along with existing hydro resources. This investment is paying off, and helping to reduce Spain's carbon footprint, as well as creating thousands of green jobs. On a good day (windy and sunny) Spain can currently produce over 50% of its electricity needs from renewables. This figure is set to rise dramatically in the coming months and years, as new solar and wind comes online. Spanish companies are also at the forefront of research and development in harnessing solar energy.

Storm Damage.
As the world warms up the weather systems become more active. Hurricanes increase in both frequency and intensity and stormy weather becomes more common. In this category you will find images of the consequences of natures power unleashed.

Svalbard is one of the most northerly land masses on the planet, its northern coastline being around 550 miles off the North Pole. Being so far North, you might think it was still a frozen Arctic environment. It is at the high latitudes that some of the greatest warming is being observed. Svalbard's problems include permafrost melting, glaciers retreating, sea ice diminishing in both extent and time and an increase in summer rainfall. The archipelago's iconic Polar Bears are suffering. Seals form the vast majority of a Polar Bears diet. They can only hunt seals on sea ice. As the sea ice retreats, the Polar Bears have both a smaller area and less time in which to hunt. Recent studies have shown that the bears are getting thinner and thinner. Whilst there I found a male Bear which had starved to death. It had traveled hundreds of miles north, from its last know location, in a desperate search for suitable sea ice to hunt on. Having found none, it ran out of gas, collapsed and died. The future for Polar Bears in a warming world is looking increasingly bleak.

Tuvalu.
Sea Levels are starting to rise around the globe. Most of the world????s largest cities containing millions of people lie at or very close to sea level, all vulnerable to sea level rise. Tuvalu, a remote island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean lying at or barely above sea level will probably one of the first countries to disappear entirely due to global warming. Already some of the smaller coral islands of Tuvalu have been destroyed. This section includes images of Tuvaluans and their lifestyle.

For years the USA was the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, until recently being overtaken by China. The carbon footprint of the average American, is equally at the top end of the scale. For years they dragged their feet in terms of taking any meaningful action on climate change. Their chickens are now coming home to roost. The South West USA has been in exceptional drought for over four years now. In California alone $2.2 Billion has been wiped off the agricultural sector, over 400,000 acres of land have ben taken out of production as there is no longer the water to irrigate the land. Some houses have not had running water for over 5 months, and one third of al children go to bed hungry in California, directly as a result of the drought. The tinder dry conditions has lead to a huge increase in the numbers of wild fires, another feedback loop that releases yet more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Water Resource.
As global warming accelerates water resources around the planet are going to be re-distributed. Areas that currently have enough water will dry up leading to drought, others will have too much water leading to erosion and flooding. It seems increasingly likely that water as a resource is something that will start to cause conflict around the planet. This section contains images of water and water use.

Wave and tidal power have great potential in our drive to de-carbonise our energy production. Whilst it isn't always windy or sunny to power wind and solar, the tides are constant, allowing us to harness a reliable source of energy. The British Isles has a huge potential for wave and tidal energy and particularly in Orkney where the tide flows are very powerful and it is often windy with large waves. Orkney is also home to EMEC, the European Marine Energy Centre, the world's only accredited wave and tidal energy testing station.

Weather.
It's all about the weather. When we talk about global warming it is the planets weather which is going to change. From this perspective it makes sense to include in this section, generic images of weather. Clouds, sunset, rainfall, snow, ice, hail, fog, sun, rainbows, wind, all are found in this category.

Harnessing the power of the wind is nothing new. From the early days of sail, to the very first windmills that were used as water pumps and for grinding corn. This century has seen the rise of the wind turbine, as countries invest in low carbon electricity generation.